Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo To Star In 'Wicked' Movie
Grammy-winning singer Ariana Grande and multi-awarded singer-songwriter Cynthia Erivo have been tapped to play the roles of Glinda and Elphaba, respectively, in the film adaptation of the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical “Wicked.”
The two artists shared the news in their respective Instagram account.
"Pink goes good with Green," said Erivo, who has a Tony, a Daytime Emmy and a Grammy as well as a host of nominations from different award-giving bodies.
Photo credit: Ariana Grande
"Thank goodness," said Grande, who got her start on Broadway in the musical “13."
Photo credit: Cynthia Erivo
“Dear Cynthia, honored doesn’t even begin to cover it. I cannot wait to hug you. See you in Oz,” she wrote in a message to Erivo, sent with a pink and green floral arrangement.
The two will star in Universal's big-screen adaptation of the Tony-winning musical to be directed by “In the Heights” director Jon M. Chu. It tells a different version of the events that happened in Oz before Dorothy arrived.
Photo credit: Cynthia Erivo
The musical is based on the 1995 novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire
The musical “Wicked,” written by Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman, follows the story of Elphaba, who later becomes the Wicked Witch of the West. Grande and Erivo will be playing Glinda and Elphaba, respectively, in the movie.
Idina Menzel -- who won a Tony Award for playing Elphaba on Broadway -- congratulated Grande and Erivo on Instagram.
"Congrats to two amazing women. May it change your lives for the better forever and ever as it has for us. So much love. @cynthiaerivo @arianagrande."
The original Broadway production “Wicked”won three Tony Awards and six Drama Desk Awards, as well as a Grammy Award.
